Harness-buckle



(No Model.) 3 Shets-Sheet 2,

R. PORTER.

HARNESS BUCKLE.

No. 282,366. Patented July 31, 1883.

Wjblroess as fimhsin or I 2 fwwy RQPORTER.

HARNESS BUCKLE.

' Pater ltedwIuly 31, 1883.

PETERS, PMQo-Lflhngnpiwr. Washington 0 c (No Model.)

p UNITED'STATES' PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT PORTER, or or'rUMwA, IOWA.

HAR NES S-BUCKLEI a SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.282,366, dated July 31, 1883.

Application filed January 15, 1883. (No model.) I

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT PORTER, .of Ottumwa, in the county of Wapelloand State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Harnessand other Buckles,which improvement isfully set forth in followingspecification.

This invention, though applicable to other purposes, has. reference moreparticularly to buckles for connecting the hame-tug with the front endof the trace in harness for horses;

and it has for its object to produce a neat and light buckle wherein thetongue of the buckle is relieved of part of the strain.

The invention consist in the special new construction of the buckle.

The accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,represent buckles constructed in accordance with the invention or withparts thereof. Figure 1 is a plan of one of the improved buckleswithhame-tug and trace in position; Fig. 2, a section of the same; Figs. 3and 4, perspective views of the parts separated; Fig. 5,a perspective ofa modified form of the bail or draft-loop, and Figs. 6 and 7 viewssimilar to Figs. 1 and 2 of another style of buckle.

A is the frame of the buckle, and B the sliding bail or draft-loop, towhich the hame-tug O is fastened. D is the trace, and E the tongue ofthe buckle. The buckle-frame comprisesthe side bars a b, the frontcross-bar a, center bar, d, and rear cross-bar 6. It is provided withthe breeching-loop f, back-band loop and belly-band loop h, (one, two,or all,) or it is unprovided therewith, as may be desired.

The bail or draft-loop B comprises the side bars 2', front cross -bar70, rear cross bar Z, lugs m, and flanges n. The side bars a b of thebuckle-frame, as shown, incline away from each other toward the front ofthe buckle, so

as to give space forthe bailor draft-loop be- I tween them. The frontcross-bar c is therefore longer than the rear bar e, and the frame hasthe general shape of a trapezoid. This is the preferableshape. The lugsm are continuations of the rear cross -bar k of the bail.'

They rest upon the sidebars at of the frame. The said side bars arecurved or dished slightly in the middle, so that in drawing forward theI lugs m will travel up an incline plane. The

amount of the curvature or dishing and the size of the crossbar k andlugs m are such that the trace D, which is passed under the crossbar 6,over the bar is, and under the bar c,will

that the flanges 12 are provided in front of the cross-bar is. Theyclamp the trace against the cross-bar c. The inner surface of thelatteris preferably shaped to conform to the outer sun face of said flanges,both being curved. Thus an even bearing over a comparativelylargesurface is secured. In Fig. 5 the fiangesn are omitted. The sidebars a of the bail or draftloop are curved outward (1'. 6., toward thetop in Fig. 2) behind the front crossbar], so as to receive the tracebetween them. They are preferably also so shaped that when the bail ordraft-loop is drawn forward the hame-tug, which surrounds the frontcross -bar Z, will press the trace outward, and thus make it fit snuglyagainst the front bar of the buckleframe. The tongue E, as shown inFigs. 1 and 3, is attached to the front cross-bar c of the buckle-frame,being made in one piece therewith. In Figs. 6 and 7 the tongue 1', whichcorresponds to the tongue E, is attached to a separate tongue-piece, F,which rests at the ends upon the side bars a b,and which is made broadin the middle, so as to have a large bearing upon the trace. In Figs. 6and 7 the rear cross-bar 7c of the bail or draft-loop is provided with atongue, G; This tonguemay be omitted or may be used, as desired.Thecentral cross-bar, d, strengthens the buckleframe; but the mainobject in its use is to prevent the bail or draft -loop from droppingthrough the frame accidentally. It is desirable for the buckle to have alength somewhat greater than its width. If, therefore, the space betweenthe front and rear crossbars of the frame were left open, it would bevery easy for 2 esascc the bail or draft loop to turn, and then therewould be nothing to sustain it. cross-bar, by shortening the space,prevents this undesirable result from happening. It is so placed thatthe space for the bail is large enough for it to be inserted when thetrace is not in place and small enough to prevent its turning or removalwhen the trace has been introduced.

Modifications besides those indicated can be made without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, and portions of the invention may be usedseparately. For example, the tongue might be placed upon the rearcrossbar of the buckle-frame; but this would bring strain upon the sidebars, which is not desira ble, and would necessitate the making of themand of the rear cross-bar heavier than would otherwise be necessary. Thecentral cross-bar might be omitted and other changes could be made. I

The trapezoidal buckle-frame might be used with other styles of bail ordraft-loop, and the bail described with buckle-frames not trapezoidal.

Of course,buckles for other purposes could be made in accordance withthe invention.

The separate tongue-piece F, Figs. 6 and 7, could be provided with lugson the bottom to fit between the side bars (61)..

For the purpose of this invention, the two forms of buckle areconsidered as substantially alike; but that shown in Figs. (Sand 7contains improvements not found in the other buckle,

and as these improvements are not specifically claimed herein,the rightis reserved of making them the subject of separate application.

The central Having now fully described mysaid invencrossbar, be bentoutward between the crossbars of the buckle-frame, substantially asdescribed. v

2. I11 combination with a buckle-frame having cross-bars of unequallength connected by side bars, a bail or draftdoop having crossbarsconnected by side bars,which fit between the more widely separatedends'of the side bars of the buckle-frame, and arecurved outwardly so asto receive a trace or strap between them, said bail or loop being alsopro vided with lugs which rest upon the side bars of the buckle-frame,substantially as described.

3. The bail or draft-loop having a rear crossbar and lugs at the endsthereof, and provided with internal flanges in one piece with said rearcrossbar, in combination with a buckleframe, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT PORTER.

\Vitnesses:

A. PoLLoK, PHILIP lvLiURO.

